Written by Rachel Freeman
Dark Nights: Metal #1 is published by DC Comics. It is written by Scott Snyder with art by Greg Capullo.
I have been waiting for this comic and I’m so happy it’s finally here. Let’s be honest, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo are basically the Dynamic Duo of DC comics. We have already had Dark Days: The Forge and Dark Days: The Casting, which were both fantastic, and this first issue of Dark Nights: Metal follows suit.
In the beginning, we see the current Justice League members (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Green Lantern, Flash, and Cyborg) in an arena, which we soon find out belongs to Mongul on his new War Moon. He has suited the JL members in some kind of metal armor that inhibits their abilities. At the time we see them, they have clearly been battling for a while and though they are putting up a good fight against monsters (or what appears to be monsters, judging by the colorful blood and strange body parts) they are not going to be much of a match against 7 huge robots, each constructed to fight their “matching” JL member specifically. However, Mr. Hiro, the Toyman, who created these robot beasts, gives them one small clue, “fulcum abominus”. Despite their best efforts, the team seems to be no match for these robos, until Batman figures out the clue. “Come together as one”. Needless to say, it’s pretty much a wrap once the JL combines with their robots and essentially makes a DC superhero themed Megazord. But this is just the beginning…
On their way back to Earth, Batman receives a distressing call from Alfred and they come home to find a giant mountain has suddenly appeared, out of no where, in the middle of Gotham city. It is inside this mountain, which is actually more of a giant laboratory, that the League uncovers something…something they don’t understand. Lady Blackhawk a.k.a. Kendra Saunders a.k.a. Hawkgirl shows up with her team of Blackhawks to stop the League before they unleash something they don’t understand. It is at the Blackhawk secret base that the another portion of the mysterious metal – the nth metal – it’s power and where it may come from, is revealed. And along with it, a name, “Wayne”.
BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN?! Well, I’m not going to tell you. You need to read and find out. Even more so, you need to read and find out the big reveal at the end. A new to this comic but well-known and established character in the comic world has appeared, but their purpose has not yet been made clear.
It may seem like I told you a lot of stuff, which I did, but there is still SO much more that happens that I can’t talk about without giving away spoilers. Just know, it’s worth.
OVERALL SCORE: 9.8 / 10
I really wanted to give this a perfect score, but I just couldn’t. Scott Snyder’s enthralling story telling and Greg Capullo’s art are nothing short of amazing. BUT….but…I don’t like Kendra Saunders as Lady Blackhawk. Mostly because I love her as Hawkgirl and I love the character of Hawkgirl and I don’t really care all that much about Lady Blackhawk outside of the Birds of Prey. So it kind of disappointed me that she became Lady Blackhawk and, in order to do that, quit being Hawkgirl. Yes. I understand her story. Yes. I understand how it fits in and fills in the plot a bit, but why does she have to be Lady Blackhawk to do what she’s doing? Why couldn’t Hawkgirl have done these exact same things? She’s still Kendra Saunders afterall. Even so, her character was well written and I am really glad she’s involved, I hope she continues to have a bigger role, especially considering whatever is going on has a lot to do with Hawkman.
Make sure you pick up a copy of Dark Nights: Metal #1 from your local comic store!
Happy reading!
